Factorization contributions and the breaking of the ΔI=1/2 rule in weak ΛNρ and ΣNρ couplings

Abstract

We compute the modified factorization contributions to the Λ→Nρ and Σ→Nρ couplings and demonstrate that these contributions naturally include ΔI=3/2 terms which are comparable (≃0.4 to -0.8 times) in magnitude to the corresponding ΔI=1/2 terms. As a consequence, we conclude models which treat vector meson exchange contributions to the weak conversion process ΛN→NN assuming such weak couplings to satisfy the ΔI=1/2 rule are unlikely to be reliable.